This happens more often than not. People simply take their like of something to the extreme. It definitely happens all the more in times with more upheaval than anything, the 2008 financial crisis still has an impact on many people these days, which causes us to cling to our already held beliefs/likes in a much more extreme manner.
This is uncalled for, but it wouldn't surprise me if the threats were made over the internet, things get heated really quick on it